Jerry’s Journey to Vietnam and Return Home
Introduction
My dad, Jerry Spriggs, is an Army veteran and was deployed to Vietnam in 1967-68. While growing up, I noticed my dad's patriotism and pride in his military service, but he was reluctant to discuss his experiences in Vietnam. Like many combat veterans, my dad rarely spoke about his military service when he was young. He was busy raising a family, working, and meeting other responsibilities in his life. He also experienced the trauma of combat, which is impossible to understand for those who have not shared that experience. As an adult, I read several books about Vietnam's history and the events leading up to the Vietnam War to better understand the conflict. One of my favorite books about Vietnam is: https://a.co/d/gJmQv8z. This book is notable for its comprehensive history and extensive photographs of Vietnam and the war.
As of March, 2025, the Vietnam War was the second longest conflict in U.S. history, with direct U.S. involvement between 1955-1975. Only the war in Afghanistan was longer (2001-2021), and not by much at 19 years and 10 months, vs. 19 years and 5 months in the case of Vietnam. The Vietnam War was a complex and unpopular war. Unlike previous generations of combat veterans, many Vietnam veterans were not welcomed home.
Early Life and Enlistment
My dad grew up in Michigan. He was a good athlete, a good student, and an outstanding musician. When he was growing up in the 1950s, there were many venues for live music, and my dad and the bands he played in were often hired to perform.
Vietnam was the last major conflict that included conscripted service (the draft). My dad volunteered for military service. He grew up in a patriotic family, and his older brother had served in the military.
Deployment to Vietnam
My father entered military service at age 20. He excelled and was quickly promoted to Sergeant. He served as an Area Intelligence Specialist, designated with the military occupational specialty 97C40. This intelligence gathering relies on human sources instead of monitoring radio transmissions and other methods.
Some of the specific areas in Vietnam in which my dad was stationed include:
Daily Life in the War Zone
Both of the above photos are of my dad when he was stationed in Vietnam. You will notice that in both of these photos, he is in civilian clothes. For the majority of his time in Vietnam, he did not wear a uniform. He also did not use his real name. His cover was that he was part of a private organization called “JTAD-13” or “Joint Technical Advisory Detachment”. JTAD-13 would advise local organizations in the Vietnamese community. In that role, he was able to cultivate human intelligence sources.
Memorable Experiences and Encounters
When my dad was stationed in Tay Ninh, the team chief (a U.S. Army Captain) had recently been assassinated. As a young NCO, my dad was selected to take over as team chief. He was in charge of 3 U.S. military men and many Vietnamese national who collected human intelligence. He coordinated with a Vietnamese agency called “MSS” (military security service) and the CIA and U.S. Air Force.
My dad was stationed in Bien Hoa during the Tet Offensive. His base came under enemy attack and sustained significant losses, including most of the M.P.s who were providing perimeter security. The soldiers who were not killed were traumatized by this attack.
My dad chose to serve in Vietnam over 13 months vs. the typical 12 months (for one deployment). He chose to extend his deployment because that allowed him to fulfill his obligation to the Army. This also eliminated the need to serve additional years in the reserves.
Return Home and Adjustment to Civilian Life
My dad’s return home wasn’t easy. There were no readjustment classes or other programs to help prepare him for life after the military. Twenty-four hours after he received notice that he was leaving the war zone, he found himself in Oakland, California. He then went to Portland, Oregon, where he stayed with his older brother for a few months before returning to Michigan.
When he arrived in Michigan, the dog he loved (pictured above) had passed away. I know that seems like a relatively small loss, but he was looking forward to seeing his dog and it was one of many losses. His parents had moved to a new city, so he needed to adjust to a new location.
My dad’s mother was working in an office with a young lady named Carolyn. Although they were different ages (my grandmother was much older), they had a lot in common. They were both married and both went to different churches. They soon became friends. My grandmother told her that her son would be returning home soon from Vietnam.
Carolyn suggested that Jerry go to her church so she could introduce him to her sister-in-law, "Rita." Jerry and Rita started dating, and my parents were married in 1969. I was born in 1970 and my brother was born in 1977.
My dad worked in the audio industry for most of his career. Despite the challenges in adjusting to civilian life, he worked tirelessly to take care of his family. He is a great dad to my brother and me, and a wonderful grandfather to my daughters.
Jerry Today
This is a picture of my parents, Jerry and Rita, from March 2025. My mom and dad attend church regularly, and my dad still plays his saxophone beautifully. He sees other veterans when he goes to his medical appointments at the VA clinic. My dad rarely discussed his military experiences while I was growing up, but he has been open to sharing more about them in recent years.
I am glad to learn more about my dad’s journey to Vietnam and his return home. Like many veterans before him and generations after him, my dad did not want to draw attention to himself. In many ways, he’s an average guy who grew up in 1950s America, raised a family, worked hard, and is now enjoying his retirement. While that is true of him and other combat veterans, it misses a bigger part of the story.
My dad is an ordinary man who made significant sacrifices and accomplished incredible things in his journey to Vietnam. He made these sacrifices out of a call to serve something greater than himself. He is exemplary and I am so proud of my dad.
